Understanding the role of evidence to inform sanitation policy in India

The global sanitation crisis continues to affect the lives of 2.4 billion people who lack access to safe sanitation. In India alone, over 520 million practice open defecation, which severely increases the risk of neonatal mortality, stunting and contracting infectious diseases.

Although lack of latrines or using them has been widely cited in the mass media as a key factor driving open defecation, very few quantitative studies have focused on it. To address this evidence gap, 3ie is supporting several impact evaluations of interventions to promote latrine use in rural India. We are also committed to supporting the use of quality research evidence to inform decision-making.

In solidarity with World Toilet Day 2017, 3ie is organising a panel discussion on the use of evidence to inform India’s sanitation policies and programming. For this discussion, we will bring together a diverse line-up of experts to have a conversation on what can be done to promote more use of research evidence to help strengthen policies that promote sanitation adoption. We hope to have a productive discussion with policymakers, programme managers and researchers on various ways of working together to support the Swachh Bharat Mission’s goal to end open defecation by 2019.